Four women on stage wearing red, Ms Dungus Day sashes joined by DJ Kiska and an accordion player
Contestants compete to be crowned Miss Dyngus Day Credit: Dyngus Day Cleveland

On Monday, April 21, bring your babushkas, polka pants, squirt guns and pussy willows to the Gordon Square Arts District.

And come hungry!  

For those who weren’t aware there’s such a thing as Easter Monday, there is. And it’s a big deal in Cleveland – especially to those who refer to it as Dyngus Day. This annual Polish festival is a day of pierogis, packzis, piwo (beer), music and dancing.

Since 2010, Dyngus Day Cleveland has been a rapidly growing tradition in the Gordon Square neighborhood, attracting thousands each year. In 2015, attendance grew to 15,000. This year’s celebration marks the 15th anniversary

Cleveland institution DJ Kishka, aka Justin Gorski, serves as the master of ceremonies each year, overseeing the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day and the Pierogi Eating Contest. Who will be crowned Miss Dyngus? It could be anyone, as DJ Kishka randomly selects contestants from the crowd, but pre-registration is also available on the Dyngus Day Cleveland website.

Person wearing a babushka, glasses fake beard and moustache with their arm around a person wearing a brimmed hat, glasses, beard and moustache holding the cover of a, 'Have a Polka Blast' album for Dyngus Day.
DJ Kishka (right) at the inaugural Dyngus Day Cleveland Festival in 2010 Credit: Dyngus Day Cleveland

Dyngus Day is historically a Polish-American tradition, serving as a celebration of the end of Lent fasting and welcoming the happiness of Easter.  The splashing of water/use of squirt guns at the festival symbolizes the ancient ritual of springtime cleansing, or renewal. Tapping someone with a pussy willow is a sign of romantic attraction.

The Dyngus Day Cleveland festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.. Admission is free for children 12 and under and $14 for those 13 and older. For additional information, go to clevelanddyngus.com.

While the Gordon Square District serves as Dyngus Day Central, with eateries including Flight Cleveland, Ninja City, XYZ Tavern and Happy Dog offering specials and/ or Polish-inspired fare, restaurants throughout Greater Cleveland are getting in on the celebration:

Waterloo Arts District

The Brian Papesh Party Band Dyngus Day Celebration  will take place at the Treelawn Music Hall on Waterloo Road at 7 p.m. as part of the 2025 Collinwood Jazz Festival

The Flats

Forest City Brewery, 2135 Columbus Road. Food, fun and live Polish music by the Frank Moravcik Band. 12-8 p.m.

Ohio City

Great Lakes Brewing Co., 2516 Market Ave., will offer Polish food specials and the tapping of their Dyngus Day Honey Ale. A pierogi-eating contest will benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Events will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are necessary.    

Tremont

Polish Veterans Alliance, 2234 Professor Ave., Tremont: Food, drinks, music, polka dancing and Dyngus Day merchandise; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Autumn Johnston and team member, both in red Pierogi Lady t-shirts serve food to a woman on Dyngus Day.
The Pierogi Lady (Autumn Johnston, on the right in red shirt) is a staple at Dyngus Day Cleveland. Johnston provides pierogies to many local eateries. Credit: Dyngus Day Cleveland

Fairview Park Dyngus Day

At Gunselman’s Tavern, celebrants can indulge in a full Dyngus Day menu, including items from the Pierogi Lady, in addition to the impressive regular menu. 

Gunselman’s has offered a Dyngus Day menu since 2019.

“The entrees on the menu have become predominantly Eastern European but not by design,” said Gunselman’s proprietor Joe McDonough. “It started with Irish Kevin’s Chicken Paprikash and then evolved further because of all the kielbasa options we offer from our friends at J&J Czuchraj from the West Side Market.”

“And the Pierogi Lady – she’s been so great to work with,” McDonough said. “We’ve become one of her biggest customers in the Cleveland area.”

Freelance Contributor (he/him)
An East Cleveland native, Nate Paige has contributed more than 30 years to local journalism. He got his professional start at the Cleveland Call & Post, and furthered his career at Cleveland.com, where he spent 21 years. He currently handles social media for the city of Shaker Heights and dabbles in screenwriting and short fiction in his not-so-spare time.